AllFreeNovel
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The second we were in our shared room, he tossed his coat and I rushed into the en suite, grabbing my night tee from the suitcase next to the vanity.
I was breathing a little too hard as I stripped, telling myself it was the cold air that’d been harsh on my lungs.
Jacket hastily tossed.
My red dress next.
The uncomfortable strapless bra gone-gone-gone. Thank God.
I quickly washed my face, then slipped into my night tee and set my hands to the counter as I peered into the mirror. My windblown blonde hair framed my face, cheeks red from both the cold and colored by my emotions.
You’ve got this. Go out there. Just go to sleep. Act like you’re only . . . only what? What are we?
“Friends. You’re Rory’s brother. Nothing more,” I lied to myself before doing my best to lock up my emotions and head back into the room.
Jesse was in front of the window with one hand in his pocket. His back to me.
You’re here to watch over me. Keep me safe. Not to make love to me.
“Are you sure it’s okay if I sleep in here?” he asked.
“There are two beds,” I reminded him. Then my sassy self snapped out, “Plus, we’ve already established you’re not interested, and Rory is just wasting her time.”
“We established that, huh?” He slowly faced me, removing his hand from his pocket.
Stilling, he quickly schooled his emotions behind the passive frown he was now sporting. His jaw was tight, and there was something blazing behind his eyes. It was hard to get a good read on the man sometimes, though.
I dropped my eyes to my oversized black tee that said “Cowgirls Do It Better.”
“I think you’re missing something,” he pointed out, eyes never leaving mine.
“And what’s that?”
One brow lifted. His signature broody look pointed my way. “A pair of pants.”
“I’ve seen you shirtless on the ranch a million times, I, um.” I shrugged, like it was all the same thing. But I knew it wasn’t. And I wasn’t sure I much cared. He’d starred in every single fantasy of mine. Tortured me my entire life. Wanting him. Unable to have him. Payback was a bitch.
“You sure you didn’t pack an adult onesie? Or maybe some fleece pants with cute puppy dogs wearing Santa hats on them?” he asked, his tone more gruff than teasing. He was even fidgeting with his belt now. Was he nervous?
I wanted him to unbuckle the belt and whip it free from the loops in one fast movement. And then maybe . . .
“No, I hate being hot at night. I like sleeping in barely anything, jacking up the AC, and then getting cozy under the covers. That a problem?”
“Barely anything. Is this barely anything? Or is this more normal?”
He unbuckled his belt and undid the top button of his pants.
All I could do was swallow. And stare.
Oh. My. God. Did his cock just twitch? “A tank top and panties. Or maybe just the panties. Tank tops tend to get all twisted in my sleep.”
“So, you’re doing me a favor by wearing a tee, huh?”
“Why, you’d see me as someone other than A.J.’s sister if you saw my tits?” Yeah, I just said that.
“Ella,” he rasped, the warning clear in his tone.
Frustrated over this entire conversation, I tore my tee over my head, tossed it on the bed, and stood before him in only my red thong. “Go ahead. Reject me again. For a third time. I barely had anything to drink. I’m way over age. And you’ve been out of the Army for a few years. So, what excuse will you come up with this time to try and hide the fact you just don’t want me?”
